1 Corinthians 10 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Warning Against Idolatry

1Co 10:1For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers,[fn] that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

1Co 10:2

1Co 10:2and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

1Co 10:3

1Co 10:3and all ate the same spiritual food,

1Co 10:4

1Co 10:4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

1Co 10:5

1Co 10:5Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown[fn] in the wilderness.

1Co 10:6

1Co 10:6Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

1Co 10:7

1Co 10:7Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”

1Co 10:8

1Co 10:8We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.

1Co 10:9

1Co 10:9We must not put Christ[fn] to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,

1Co 10:10

1Co 10:10nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.

1Co 10:11

1Co 10:11Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

1Co 10:12

1Co 10:12Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

1Co 10:13

1Co 10:13No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

1Co 10:14

1Co 10:14Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

1Co 10:15

1Co 10:15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.

1Co 10:16

1Co 10:16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

1Co 10:17

1Co 10:17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

1Co 10:18

1Co 10:18Consider the people of Israel:[fn] are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?

1Co 10:19

1Co 10:19What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

1Co 10:20

1Co 10:20No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.

1Co 10:21

1Co 10:21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

1Co 10:22

1Co 10:22Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

Do All to the Glory of God

(cf. Psa 24:1 )

1Co 10:23

1Co 10:23“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.

1Co 10:24

1Co 10:24Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

1Co 10:25

1Co 10:25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

1Co 10:26

1Co 10:26For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”

1Co 10:27

1Co 10:27If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

1Co 10:28

1Co 10:28But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—

1Co 10:29

1Co 10:29I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience?

1Co 10:30

1Co 10:30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

1Co 10:31

1Co 10:31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1Co 10:32

1Co 10:32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,

1Co 10:33

1Co 10:33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(10:1)

Or brothers and sisters

(10:5)

Or were laid low

(10:9)

Some manuscripts the Lord

(10:18)

Greek Consider Israel according to the flesh

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